Biography
James is a Solicitor in the Real Estate Disputes team at our Sheffield office.
James is experienced in advising businesses, charities, other institutions and individuals on the full range of real estate disputes.
These include disputes about:
- Breaches of contract
- Break options
- Boundaries
- Business lease renewals (opposed and unopposed)
- Dilapidations
- Easements
- Equitable interests in land
- Forfeiture
- Freehold and leasehold covenants
- Public rights of way
- Recovering possession of property
- Trespassers
- Service charges.
James advises and represents clients at all stages of a dispute as well as giving advice to help avoid disputes in the first place. He is a strong proponent of alternative dispute resolution, and regularly attends mediations and other settlement meetings for his clients. He is also an experienced advocate who represents his clients at a wide variety of Court hearings.
Testimonials:
James "is realistic with expectations and is very responsive with email and letter writing. James is very professional but yet showed considerable empathy towards our situation and that helped us to relax when dealing with him. We have been very happy to work with him." - Legal 500, 2021
Recent Highlights:
Siddiqui and Ullah v Leila Rahman (acting by her LPA receivers) [Unreported, February 2018] – Represented the successful LPA receivers for the defendant commercial landlord in opposing the tenants’ lease renewal claim
PT v WPL [Unreported, May 2018] – Represented the successful tenant of a high value penthouse flat in Central London. Helped them claim for declaratory relief against their landlord relating to the interpretation of the client’s lease, alleged breaches of the lease and service charges.
Represented the developer of a mixed use scheme in Norfolk in defending a claim for obstruction of a right of way over and a right to park on the client’s development. Resolved at mediation, resulting in a settlement enabling the client to proceed with their development plans.
Bradley and Bradley v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council - Acted for the owners of a commercial dairy farm in successful High Court proceedings under Paragraph 12 of Schedule 15 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This was to quash a definitive map modification order made by Kirklees in relation to an alleged public right of way through the farm (the existence of which is disputed).
Publications:
Take notice: What constitutes reasonable notice to vacate?
Let there be light: an interesting case on the acquisition and release of tenants’ rights of light
Can I estopp you there? Deadlines under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and the role of estoppel
Off the beaten path? A practical guide for developers to public rights of way (Part One of Two)
Off the beaten path? A practical guide for developers to public rights of way (Part Two of Two)
